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Best Database Design Tools in 2026

Database design tools can help you model structures, work with existing databases, and move designs toward implementation. Compared on supported databases and deployment, forward and reverse engineering, and SQL export, these options show which design workflows are covered.

  1. 01 Database Workbench

    Database Workbench offers editions for individual projects and development teams.

    Free plan Windows · macOS · Linux
    9.2 Visit Specs
  2. 02 Hackolade Studio

    It suits analysts, data architects, designers, developers, and DBAs who need to model schemas across supported sources.

    Free plan Web · Windows · macOS · Linux
    9.1 Visit Specs
  3. 03 MySQL
    Free plan Windows · macOS · Linux · API
    9.1 Visit Specs
  4. 04 Schemity

    Schemity is aimed at software engineers designing and maintaining database schemas.

    From $2.42/mo Free plan Web · Windows · macOS · Linux
    8.8 Visit Specs
  5. 05 ChartDB
    From $25/mo Free plan Web · Self-hosted
    8.5 Visit Specs
  6. 06 DbSchema

    DbSchema suits people who design or manage SQL and NoSQL databases and want visual modeling, query tools or schema documentation.

    From $9/mo Free plan Windows · macOS · Linux
    8.5 Visit Specs
  7. 07 dbdiagram.io

    It suits developers and data analysts who prefer to design database diagrams using DBML.

    From $20/mo Free plan Web · API · Browser extension
    8.4 Visit Specs
  8. 08 DrawSQL
    From $14.25/mo Free plan Web · API
    8.4 Visit Specs
  9. 09 DB Designer

    DB Designer suits users who want to model database schemas visually, from freelancers and developers to organizations.

    From $9/mo Free plan Web
    8.3 Visit Specs
  10. 10 DeZign for Databases
    From $1.92/mo Free trial Windows
    8.2 Visit Specs
  11. 11 pgModeler

    pgModeler suits PostgreSQL users who want local schema design, reverse engineering, comparison, or deployment automation across desktop platforms.

    From $59.90/mo Free plan Windows · macOS · Linux
    8.2 Visit Specs
  12. 12 ERBuilder Data Modeler

    It suits developers and database professionals who design, generate or reverse engineer databases on Windows.

    From $11.58/mo Free plan Windows
    8.1 Visit Specs
  13. 13 ER/Studio
    From $223.92/mo Free trial Web · Windows · Self-hosted
    8.1 Visit Specs
  14. 14 Moon Modeler
    Free trial Windows · macOS · Linux
    7.9 Visit Specs
  15. 15 drawDB

    drawDB suits people designing database schemas or converting between diagram formats and SQL.

    Free plan Web · Self-hosted
    7.8 Visit Specs
  16. 16 DBModeler
    Free plan Web
    7.7 Visit Specs
  17. 17 ERD Designer
    Free plan Web · Browser extension
    7.6 Visit Specs
  18. 18 ER Designer
    Free plan Web
    7.6 Visit Specs
  19. 19 QuickDBD

    It suits people who want an online database diagrammer with SQL export, forward engineering and team collaboration.

    From $7.92/mo Free plan Web
    7.6 Visit Specs
  20. 20 Skipper
    From $16.58/mo Free trial Windows · macOS · Linux
    7.6 Visit Specs
  21. 21 Tap Forms Pro
    From $1.08/mo Free trial macOS · iOS
    7.5 Visit Specs
  22. 22 WorksCove ERD

    WorksCove ERD suits database designers who need schema visualization, SQL export, validation, and migration support in a web tool.

    From $10/mo Free trial Web
    7.5 Visit Specs
  23. 23 Model Xtractor
    Free plan Windows
    7.4 Visit Specs
  24. 24 SQL Power Architect
    Free plan Windows · macOS · Linux
    7.4 Visit Specs
  25. 25 OpenDBD
    Free plan Web
    7.3 Visit Specs
How this list is ordered. Specifiction scores each tool on how fully its maker documents it, whether its prices are published, where the research puts it, the platforms it runs on and whether it can be tried for free (how we rank). Makers can also buy a numbered place (how Specifiction is paid for).

Team collaboration and version history can matter when designs are shared or revisited; free-plan availability and paid-from pricing add cost context. MySQL, Hackolade Studio, and DbSchema are among the included tools, alongside Schemity and pgModeler. Start with the database types and modeling tasks you need to support, then weigh export, collaboration, and history features against how your work is organized.

Compare Database Workbench and Hackolade Studio Get a place on this list

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